Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-20
Judge Ellrtt's Death.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Oct. Is, 1885,

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Oct. Is, 1887.
To the Editor of the Gazette.
Long before this reaches you your
readers will have read of the tragic death
of Chancellor Elicit during the speech of
the President at Memphis. But it was
SO strange, SO sad, SO full Of proof that
all "fiesh Is grass," Sin the midst CT life
we are in DEATH" that it may we'll eread
every day. The city was literally COW
cred with gala trimmings and sWarming
with masses Of human jollity, who were
assembled at Court square to welcouae
the President and receive his response
TIE Mayor being sick, Judge Elicit Vas
selected on account of his learn
ing and high character to de-
liver the welcome address, not
withstanding Senators Harris and Bate
were present. Court Square is o mini
ature park in the heart of the city. well
shaded by the old oaks and peplars that
long past shaded the red man when he
met on the father of waters to display his
scalps A stand was erected unfortunate
~ in the only spot not well shaded,a tree
having having died so as to make an
opening where the President and Judge
Elicit stood. They were the only per-
sons in the vast assemblage that had their
heads uncovered. The sun shone merci-
lessly on their bare heads; the Judges
head was we'll covered with iron gray
hair, but the Presidents was bald all over
the top, but his stelwart frame defled thu
suns rays and looked as ii a streak of
lightning would shy off II
out victim hunting. Memphis
was the first place the President
visited in the south, st. Louis and
Kansas City having long been northern
lied. The orator of the day spoke un-
usually long for such speech, the main
object OF which was to assure the nations
executive that the south held no bitter
ness, but cherished warm sentiments for
constitution and the Union. After the
welcome the President slowly proceeded
as ii addressing q court on q demurrer,
both still standing in the sun. When Mr..
CleVelaud's address was nearing its close
Judge Elicit fell heavily in his seat, and
almost Immediately expired. The address
of Mr.. Cleveland was not concluded
The last words that fell from the lips of
the deceased was q greeting on behalf
of the whole south to the whole north
of good will and fraternsl love,
The last sound that fell upon his ears
was hearty assurance from the chief
magistrate that his citizens of the
north reclprocated warmly the same
kindly feelings. The last image that was
impressed up his eye was that of the
beamipg cOuntenance of the chief ex-
1cutive of the greatest nation of modern
or sncient times, whose election was an
earnest Of restored Union, and whose
administration has obliterated Mason and
DixoD's line. No pain rocked his form,
no sickness wasted his flesh, no bursting
food of tears fell upon his bedimming
sight, 40 wall Of grief from his loved
ones rasped his benumbiDg ears as is the
fate Of most men in the last extremity,
but instantly! and he was across the dark
river.
He fell and died, under the immediate
eye of the chief of the nation, and his
wife and 80 900 people, and in the tele-
graphic eye of 10000, O00 To obtain q
death SO noble, who would not gladly
welcome the grim messenger, though he
be SO swift and releptIess2
j. F. CUNNINGHvM, SR.